Once again we'll be featuring our Game Day Tipsheet every Friday, which will include everything you'll want to know, some things you may not have known and probably a few things you didn't care to know, but find interesting anyway.
Top 3 Individual Matchups
1. Jabari Greer vs. Santana Moss - Finally Greer faces a team's top receiver where he is not at a disadvantage in terms of height. Moss is just third on the team in receptions and receiving yards, but he is still the biggest game breaking threat in the team's receiving corps. Greer's strength is man-to-man coverage, which may not be a bad idea against the slippery Moss.
2. Jason Peters vs. Andre Carter - Carter has quietly put together one of his stronger seasons rushing the passer as he has compiled eight sacks in 11 games. He is not just pure speed as Carter can beat linemen with power as well. It will be a good matchup for the athletic Peters.
3. Donte Whitner vs. Chris Cooley - Tight ends have given the Bills problems this season and Cooley could be the most dangerous threat. The Redskins tight end leads the team in touchdowns with seven and leads the team in receptions with 46. He's a valuable security blanket for Jason Campbell in the passing game.
Top 2 Bills Advantages
1. Good advantage - Rian Lindell - Washington's Shaun Suisham is a fairly reliable kicker, but when it comes to long distance Lindell has him beat in terms of accuracy. Both teams have had their share of close games this season. If that's the case Sunday, Lindell gives Buffalo the edge.
2. Best advantage - Lee Evans - Washington has struggled defending the pass at times after losing top cornerback Carlos Rogers to a season ending injury last month. Fred Smoot is a capable defender, but will need help against Evans. And Reed Doughty is an inexperienced free safety.
Bills number one must
Takeaways - Naturally takeaways are important every week, but with few matchup advantages for the Bills in this game, takeaways are the only way to shift the game in Buffalo's favor. Washington has been susceptible to the giveaway as they average more than two a game (24 this season). The Redskins had four fumbles in 16 plays last week and Jason Campbell had a pair of interceptions. If the Bills can't get two or three turnovers they should be in business.
Scouting Eye
Close games - Washington has played most of their opponents close this season whether in victory or defeat. The Redskins' last three losses have been by six, five and eight points. Five of their six losses this season have been by eight points or less. At the same time four of their five wins this season have been by eight points or less including three by three points or less.
Filling Taylor void - The passing of Sean Taylor was obviously a huge loss to his family and team. In terms of pure football the void left by Taylor will be difficult for the Redskins to fill. The team's leading tackler last year, Taylor was a player defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was building his defense around. Taylor is still the team's leading interceptor this season with five picks and was widely considered the team's best athlete. Second-year safety Reed Doughty has started the last two weeks prior to Taylor's passing. Those are his only two starts at the position.
Campbell up and down - Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs is still dealing with the growing pains of young signal caller Jason Campbell. He had certainly made plays this season, but is also susceptible to one or two big mistakes per game. A microcosm of his play can be seen in his last two outings. Against Dallas Campbell was 33-54 for 348 yards and two touchdowns, but threw a costly interception late. This past week Campbell was 30-49 for 301 yards one touchdown and two interceptions one of which was in the end zone. He also had a lost fumble in the game on a sack.
Strong special teams - Former Bills special teams coach Danny Smith has fared well in the same role in Washington. Rock Cartwright has helped lead the kick return unit to the third best return average in the league with his average of 27.4 on the season. Smith's coverage units have also been effective as the team ranks second in the league in punt coverage and sixth in the league in kick coverage, both better ranks than Buffalo's units.
Punt return problem - The only area of special teams that has suffered a bit for the Redskins is their punt return unit due to injury. Top punt returner Antwaan Randle El has been fighting a nagging hamstring problem and may not be able to serve in that role. His backup James Thrash is not expected to play this week due to an ankle injury and third stringer Santana Moss is recovering from a heel injury and likely won't be asked to overextend himself by returning punts in addition to playing on offense. That will likely leave the role to veteran Keenan McCardell, who returned punts for Washington last week.
Fletch Lives - London Fletcher is again having another statistically successful season as he leads the Redskins in tackles and stands fifth in the league (95). Fletcher is also tied for the league lead in interceptions by linebackers with three. Some of his better performances this season were 10 tackles and an interception against Dallas and an interception return for a touchdown against Arizona in week 7.
Buffalo Chips
Quote of the week: "Fletcher plays with a lot of intensity. He gets a lot of guys around him going. You can expect him to come out there ready. Defensively on our side of the ball we need to be ready to do that same thing. We have to bring the fight to them instead of waiting for the fight to come to us."
--LB Angelo Crowell
Stat of the week: Lee Evans has 14 receiving touchdowns in his career in the month of December. Since 2004 that's the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL in that month.
Milestones in reach:
Roscoe Parrish (342) needs 43 punt return yards to set an all-time franchise single season record for punt return yards in a season (Donnie Walker 384, 1974).
Rian Lindell (12) needs to hit his next six field goal attempts to break the team's all-time consecutive field goal streak record held by Steve Christie who hit 17 straight in 1994.
Terrence McGee needs one more kickoff return for a touchdown to tie the league record for most kick return scores in a career with six.
Final note:
If he starts on Sunday, Fred Jackson will become the first Bills former Division III college player to start in an NFL game on offense since Jamie Mueller (Benedictine) did it 20 years ago on Nov. 29, 1987 vs. Miami. London Fletcher was the last Division III college player to start for the Bills last season.
